Rules and Procedures in Civil Court Cases

Going to court can be intimidating. This article will help you understand what happens when you go to court.

It's a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you can. A lawyer can help you understand your options and how to prepare for court. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a lawyer or legal services in your area. If you need to handle your legal matter yourself, you can get information about legal issues here on the Michigan Legal Help website. If you're going to represent yourself in court, you need to know several things. 

A case-type code is a set of two letters at the end of a court case number. Each code stands for a type of case. A case is started when a complaint or petition is filed in a Michigan court. The court clerk assigns a case number, and at the end of the case number is the case-type code.

Many courts are using remote (virtual) hearings for some kinds of court dates. Read this article to learn about how to attend remote court and what to do if you have a remote court date but need to ask for an in-person hearing instead.

Michigan Legal Help has tools to fill many kinds of forms but we do not cover all areas. You may have a blank form that you need to fill out on your own. Read this article to learn more about how to fill out a blank court form.